Fan support structure and metal plate for fabricating the same

ABSTRACT

A fan support structure is integrally formed by bending a metal plate. The fan support structure includes a first plate area and a second plate area extended from a first edge of the first plate area and perpendicular to the first plate area. At least one through hole is disposed at the first plate area. The first edge of the first plate area and a second edge of the first plate area opposite to the first edge of the first plate are extended to form at least one slot structure. Directions in which the first edge and the second edge of the first plate extend and are formed are opposite to a direction in which the second plate area extends and is formed. Openings of the slot structure are opposite to each other. The slot structure is used to hold a filter screen.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Taiwan Patent Application No.099224209, filed on Dec. 14, 2010, which is hereby incorporated byreference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a fan support structure and a metalplate for fabricating the same, and more particularly to a combinedfilter screen holding structure and a fan support structure capable ofbeing configured with both a fan and a filter screen.

2. Related Art

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of placing a fan support structure into anetwork device in the prior art, FIG. 2A is a schematic view of a fansupport structure configured with a filter screen in the prior art, FIG.2B is a schematic front side view of a fan support structure in theprior art, and FIG. 2C is a schematic exploded view of a fan supportstructure in the prior art.

A fan support structure 2 in the prior art includes a fan fixing frame21 and a filter screen holding structure 22. The fan fixing frame 21 isa shell-like frame for accommodating one or more fans 3. The fan 3 isfixed inside the fan fixing frame 21 in a manner such as by screwing orclamping. The filter screen holding structure 22 is configured at anopening of the fan fixing frame 21. The filter screen holding structure22 is fixed on the fan fixing frame 21 by using a structure of the fanfixing frame 21 in combination with a screw joining technique. In orderto maintain a smooth air flow, a plurality of through holes 211 isopened at a plate of the fan fixing frame 21 at an air outletcorresponding to the fan 3. A plurality of through holes 221 is alsoopened at an air inlet of the filter screen holding structure 22corresponding to the fan 3. A rib 222 is disposed at the through holes221 of the filter screen holding structure 22. In addition, a slot 223is disposed at an upper part, a lower part, and two side edges of thefilter screen holding structure 22. An opening of the slots 223 faces acenter of the filter screen holding structure 22. A filter screen 23 isclamped on the filter screen holding structure 22 through the slots 223.

A front plate of network device 1 includes a frame placing hole, and auser may push the fan support structure 2 to place the fan supportstructure 2 into the network device 1. On the contrary, the user mayinsert a finger into a hook ring 24 of the fan support structure 2 topull the fan support structure 2 out.

However, firstly, the fan support structure needs to be formed by twocomponents, and the fan fixing frame needs to reserve a space toaccommodate the filter screen holding structure, so that the spaceoccupied by the fan support structure cannot be decreased, and therequired members and materials cannot be decreased either, and thus themanufacturing cost of the frame cannot be reduced. Secondly, the fansupport structure is formed by two components, so that a manufacturerneeds to manufacture the fan fixing frame and the filter screen holdingstructure respectively, so that a manufacturing process cannot beshortened, and manufacturing hours cannot be reduced. Since themanufacturing cost and design hours cannot be reduced, the overalldesign cost is always high. Thirdly, since the fan support structureoccupies certain space, and an accommodation space for configuring thefan support structure needs to be reserved in a device case, and thusthe occupied space of an overall architecture of the device case iscorresponding increased. Therefore, the fan support structure isapplicable to large-volume network device (such as 2u-high networkdevice), and cannot meet the delicate and miniaturized design target anddemands for electronic devices, and thus the market competitiveness ofthe electronic device is impacted. Fourthly, since the fan supportstructure needs an additionally designed connecting structure or otherconnecting components to combine the two components, if the connectingstructure is badly designed, hardware stability of the fan supportstructure is deteriorated.

Therefore, how to decrease the design cost of and the occupied space ofa fan support structure with existing functions becomes a problemcontemplated by manufactures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The embodiment of present invention is directed to a fan supportstructure and a metal plate for fabricating the same. The fan support iscapable of holding a filter screen and mounting a fan simultaneously.

The embodiment of present invention provides a fan support structure,which is integrally formed by bending a metal plate. The fan supportstructure comprises a first plate area and a second plate area extendedfrom a first edge of the first plate area and perpendicular to the firstplate area. At least one through hole is disposed at the first platearea. The first edge of the first plate area and a second edge of thefirst plate area opposite to the first edge of the first plate areextended to form at least one slot structure, and directions in whichthe first edge and the second edge of the first plate extend and areformed are opposite to a direction in which the second plate areaextends and is formed. Openings of the slot structure are opposite toeach other. The slot structure is used to hold a filter screen.

The embodiment of present invention provides a metal plate forfabricating a fan support structure. The metal plate comprises a firstplate area and a second plate area. The second plate area is disposed ata first edge of the first plate area. The first plate area is disposedwith at least one through hole. A plurality of bent plates are disposedat the first edge of the first plate area and a corresponding secondedge of the first plate area

The embodiment of present invention has the following advantages.Firstly, the filter screen holding structure is designed to be combinedon the fan support structure, and a holding structure of a filter screendoes not need to be designed additionally, so that the fan supportstructure is integrally formed by bending a metal plate, and thus theuse of members is saved, and the manufacturing cost of member design andmaterial use is reduced at the same time. Secondly, the fan supportstructure is already combined with the structure for fixing the filterscreen, and thus the design and use of a filter screen frame is omitted,and the manufacturing process is shortened, the manufacturing hours arereduced, and the manufacturing cost and the design hours are effectivelyreduced, and the overall design cost is reduced dramatically. Thirdly,in the embodiment of present invention, the opposite slots are formed inthe first plate area by bending, so that the filter screen may be fitinto the slots and fixed on the frame. Since the filter screen holdingstructure is combined to the fan support structure, no space needs to bereserved for accommodating the filter screen holding structure, and thusthe space occupied by the fan support structure is effectivelydecreased, and demands of required members and materials are reduced,and the manufacturing cost of the frame is reduced. Fourthly, the spaceoccupied by the fan support structure is decreased, the accommodationspace needs to be reserved in an device case is decreased accordingly,so that the space occupied by the whole device case is also decreasedaccordingly, or may be used for other purposes, thus the delicate andminiaturized design target and demands for electronic devices are met.On the other hand, under the condition of the same accommodation space,more functional components, circuits, and apparatuses can be configured,thus enhancing market competitiveness of the electronic device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of placing a fan support structure into anetwork device in the prior art;

FIG. 2A is a schematic view of a fan support structure configured with afilter screen in the prior art;

FIG. 2B is a schematic front side view of a fan support structure in theprior art;

FIG. 2C is a schematic exploded view of a fan support structure in theprior art;

FIG. 3 is a schematic structural view of a metal plate for fabricating afan support structure according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4A is a schematic view of bending of a first and a third plateareas of a metal plate according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4B is a schematic view of formation of a filter screen holdingstructure of a metal plate according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4C is a schematic view of formation of another filter screenholding structure of a metal plate according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 5A is a schematic plane view of bending of a first block areaaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5B is a schematic partial view of bending of a first block areaaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5C is a schematic view of bending of a first connecting areaaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6A is a front side view of an architecture of a fan supportstructure according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6B is a rear side view of an architecture of a fan supportstructure according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of placement of a fan according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of placing a fan support structure into adevice according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9A is another schematic structural view of the metal plate forfabricating a fan support structure according to an embodiment of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 9B is a front side view of another architecture of a fan supportstructure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below indetail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 3 is a schematic structural view of a metal plate for fabricating afan support structure according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. For ease of understanding, an axis X-Y is used forillustration, a +X direction is a right-hand direction, a −X directionis a left-hand direction, +Y is an upward direction, and −Y is adownward direction.

A metal plate 4 includes a plurality of areas, and has a substantiallyrectangular first plate area 41 at the middle thereof. More than onethrough hole 411 is disposed in the first plate area 41. A rib 412 runsover each of the through holes 411. An example is used herein forillustrating, in which three through holes 411 of the same diameter arearranged in an X-axis direction. However, the number of the throughholes 411 is determined by the number of pre-configured fans, and thepresent invention is not limited thereto. The rib 412 may run over thethrough hole 411 in a Y-axis direction, or the rib 412 may run over thethrough hole 411 in the X-axis direction. Furthermore, the number of therib 412 is not limited to one, and is set according to requirements ofdesigners.

A first edge 71 of the first plate area 41 extends to form a secondplate area 42, which has a same length as the first plate area 41 and isrectangular. Openings 421 are disposed at the second plate area 42. Thenumber and position of the openings 421 correspond to those of thethrough holes 411. A second edge 72 of the first plate area 41 extendsto form a first bent plate area 43. A second bent plate area 44 isdisposed at a portion of the first edge 71 of the first plate area 41adjacent to the opening 421 of the second plate area 42.

A third plate area 45 is disposed at a corresponding edge 75 of thefirst edge 71 of the first plate area 41 at the second plate area 42.That is to say, the corresponding edge 75 is a common adjacent edge ofthe third plate area 45 and the second plate area 42. In this example,the length of the third plate area 45 is the same as that of the secondplate area 42, and the height of the third plate area 45 is smaller thanthat of the first plate area 41, and thus the third plate area 45 isthin and long, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Theheight of the third plate area 45 may also be equal to that of the firstplate area 41. The third plate area 45 may be used to dispose more thanone fan fixing member 50 (the disposition is described later). Thenumber of the fan fixing member 50 is determined according to the numberof the configured fans. A connecting member 451 is disposed at two sidesof the third plate area 45 respectively.

A third edge 73 and a fourth edge 74 of the first plate area 41 extendto form a first block area 46 and a second block area 47 respectively.The first block area 46 is at the left of the first plate area 41, andthe second block area 47 is at the right of the first plate area 41. Inthis example, the length of the two block areas (46, 47) is approximateto the width (in the Y-axis direction) of the first plate area 41, andthe width of the two block areas (46, 47) is approximate to the width(in the Y-axis direction) of the second plate area 42. An outer sideedge 76 of the first block area 46, an opposite edge corresponding tothe third edge 73 of the first plate area 41, extends to form a firstconnecting area 461. Accordingly, an outer side edge 76′ of the secondblock area 47, an opposite edge corresponding to the fourth edge 74 ofthe first plate area 41, extends to form a second connecting area 471.

Shapes of the first connecting area 461 and the second connecting area471 may be the same or different according to the design demands. Aconnecting member 452 is disposed at the first connecting area 461 andthe second connecting area 471 respectively, and the shape of theconnecting member 452 needs to correspond to that of the connectingmember 451 on the third plate area 45.

FIG. 4A is a schematic view of bending of the first and the third plateareas of the metal plate according to the embodiment of the presentinvention, FIG. 4B is a schematic view of formation of a filter screenholding structure of the metal plate according to the embodiment of thepresent invention, and FIG. 4C is a schematic view of formation ofanother filter screen holding structure of the metal plate according tothe embodiment of the present invention, referring to FIG. 3 togetherfor better understanding. The description is herein performed in across-sectional manner in combination with a Y-Z axis.

FIG. 4A is a sectional view of bending of the first plate area 41 andthe third plate area 45 along a section line P. First, the first platearea 41 and the third plate area 45 are bent towards the same directionin a direction perpendicular to the second plate area 42, to make themetal plate 4 concave. The height of the third plate area 45 is smallerthan that of the first plate area 41, so that the metal plate 4 issubstantially L-shaped. In terms of FIG. 4A, both of the first platearea 41 and the third plate area 45 are bent towards a +Z direction.

The first bent plate area 43 and the second bent plate area 44 are bentin a direction different from that towards the second plate area 42. Interms of FIG. 4B, the second plate area 42 is in a +Y direction of thefirst plate area 41, so all of the bent plate areas are bent towards a−Y direction. However, after being bent, each of the first bent plateareas 43 bends downwards to form a first slot structure 51; and afterbeing bent, each of the second bent plate areas 44 bends upwards to forma second slot structure 52. In this case, both slot structures (51, 52)extend in a direction opposite to the direction in which the secondplate area 42 extends and is formed. In addition, slot openings of thefirst slot structure 51 and the second slot structure 52 are opposite toeach other. All of the first slot structure 51, the second slotstructure 52, and the first plate area 41 are combined to be a filterscreen holding structure.

A difference between FIG. 4C and FIG. 4B lies in the being method of thebent plate areas. In FIG. 4B, the first bent plate area 43 and thesecond bent plate area 44 are bent twice to form the right-angle slotstructures. In FIG. 4C, a first bent plate area 43′ and a second bentplate area 44′ are bent in an arc bending manner to form a claw-shapedfirst slot structure 51′ and second slot structure 5T with opposite slotopenings.

FIG. 5A is a schematic plane view of bending of the first block areaaccording to the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5B is aschematic partial view of the bending of the first block area accordingto the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5C is a schematicview of the bending of the first connecting area according to theembodiment of the present invention, referring to FIG. 3 together forbetter understanding.

The first block area 46 is formed by extending the third edge 73 of thefirst plate area 41, and bending towards the third plate area 45, sothat the first block area 46 is vertically disposed at an adjacent edgeat the same end of the first plate area 41 and the third plate area 45.The first connecting area 461 is further bent towards the third platearea 45 and is attached to an inner surface or an outer surface of thethird plate area 45, and in this example, to the outer surface. Theconnecting member 452 on the first connecting area 461 joins theconnecting member 451 of the third plate area 45, so that a designer canfix the first connecting area 461 to the third plate area 45.

Accordingly, the second block area 47 is formed by extending the fourthedge 74 of the first plate area 41, and bending towards the third platearea 45, so that the second block area 47 is vertically disposed at theadjacent edge at the same end of the first plate area 41 and the thirdplate area 45. The second connecting area 471 is further bent towardsthe third plate area 45 and is attached to the outer surface of thethird plate area 45. The connecting member 452 on the second connectingarea 471 joins the connecting member 452 of the third plate area 45, sothat a designer can fix the second connecting area 471 to the thirdplate area 45. However, in terms of appearance of the frame, a portionof the third plate area for configuring the connecting member 451 iscapable of being bent inward, such that a surface of the third platearea 45 is smooth and consistent to those of the first connecting area461 and the second connecting area 471.

Referring to FIG. 3, FIG. 5A, and FIG. 5B together, the first block area46 is opened with a through hole 462, and a square hole is taken forexample herein, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and ahole of other shapes is also suitable. An edge of the through hole 462protrudes outwards to form a convex arc-shaped dragging portion 463.When the dragging portion 463 is disposed at the first block area 46, aconnector fixing hole 472 for placing in an electrical connector of thefan is disposed at the second block area 47. On the contrary, thedragging portion 462 may also be disposed at the second block area 47,and then the connector fixing hole 472 for placing in the electricalconnector of the fan is disposed at the fist block area 46.

FIG. 6A is a front side view of an architecture of a fan supportstructure according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.6B is a rear side view of the architecture of the fan support structureaccording to the embodiment of the present invention, referring to FIG.3 together for better understanding.

A fan support structure 4′ is integrally formed by the metal plate 4.The fan support structure 4′ includes a first plate area 41, a thirdplate area 45 lower than the first plate area 41, and a second platearea 42. The first plate area 41 is parallel to the third plate area 45.The second plate area 42 is perpendicular to the first plate area 41 andthe third plate area 45, and is disposed at the same end of the firstplate area 41 and the third plate area 45.

More than one through hole 411 is disposed at the first plate area 41. Arib 412 runs over each of the through holes 411. An example isillustrated herein, in which three through holes 411 of the samediameter are arranged in an X-axis direction. However, the number of thethrough holes 411 is determined by the number of configured fans, andthe present invention is not limited thereto. A first edge 71 and asecond edge 72 of the first plate area 41 extend in a directiondifferent from a direction towards the third plate area 45 to form aplurality of first slot structures 51 and second slot structures 52.Openings of the slot structures (51, 52) are opposite to each other. Thefirst slot structures 51, the second slot structures 52, and the firstplate area 41 are combined to be a filter screen holding structure.

The first block area 46 and the second block area 47 are verticallydisposed at two side edges of the first plate area 41 and the thirdplate area 45. A first connecting area 461 and a second connecting area471 are disposed at outer side edges (76, 76′) of the first block area46 and the second block area 47 respectively. The connecting areas (461,471) are bent and attached to the third plate area 45, and are connectedto a connecting member 451 of the third plate area 45 through aconnecting member 452 on the connecting areas (461, 471), so that theconnecting areas (461, 471) are connected to an outer surface or aninner surface of the third plate area 45.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of placement of the fan according to theembodiment of the present invention, referring to FIG. 3 to FIG. 6Btogether for better understanding. The first plate area 41, the secondplate area 42, and the third plate area 45 form a concave structure. Anopen accommodation space in the concave structure may be placed with oneor more fans 3′, and the number of the fans is determined according tothe number and shape of the fans that designers intends to placed andthe capacity of the open accommodation space, and the present inventionis not limited thereto. The first plate area 41, the second plate area42, and the third plate area 45 are attached to three surfaces of thefan 3′ to abut against the fan 3′ without blocking an air inlet and anair outlet of the fan 3′, so as to position the fan 3′ within the fansupport structure 4′.

The electrical connector of the fan 3′ is disposed in the connectorfixing hole 472 of the second block area 47. A wiring of the fan 3′ isdisposed in the accommodation space, or is regulated by the first slotstructure 51 and the second slot structure 52.

However, in order to fix the fan 3′, a plurality of fan fixing members50 may be disposed at a portion of the third plate area 45 close to thesecond plate area 42. The fan fixing members 50 may be any one ofscrewing components, riveting components, and clamping components, onlyif the fan 3′ can be fixed stably and positioned. A filter screen 6 isplaced into slots of the first slot structure 51 and the second slotstructure 52, to be fixed to the filter screen holding structure (acombination of the first slot structure 51, the second slot structure52, and the first plate area 41).

The air inlet of each of the fans 3′ is aligned at the through holes 411of the first plate area 41. In order to keep the fan operating smoothly,arc cutting may be performed on the third plate area 45, the first bentplate area 43, and the second bent plate area 44, such that each of theair inlets and the air outlets of the fans 3′ are not obstructed by anyobstacle when the metal plate 4 forms the fan support structure 4′, thusimproving smoothness of an air flow, and improving the heat dissipationeffect of the fans 3′. The number of the fans configured in the fansupport structure is determined according to the requirements of thedesigners. Architecture configured with a single fan or multiple fansmay be designed, and the present invention is not limited thereto.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of placing a fan support structure into adevice according to an embodiment of the present invention, referring toFIG. 7 together for better understanding. A front panel of a networkdevice 1′ includes a frame placing hole. A user may, starting from thesecond block area 47, push the first block area 46 to place the fansupport structure 4′ for configuring the fan 3′ into the network deviceU. On the contrary, the user may insert a finger into the through hole462 of the first block area 46 to hook the dragging portion 463 and pullthe fan support structure 4′ out. In addition, as the space occupied bythe fan support structure 4′ is decreased, the accommodation spacerequired to be reserved of the case of the network device 1′ isdecreased accordingly, and the space occupied by the whole device caseis also decreased accordingly. As shown in FIG. 8, the fan supportstructure 4′ is designed to correspond to the small network device 1′(for example, 1u-high network device) with small inside space.

FIG. 9A is another schematic structural view of the metal plate forfabricating a fan support structure according to an embodiment of thepresent invention, and FIG. 9B is a front side view of anotherarchitecture of a fan support structure according to an embodiment ofthe present invention. The difference of FIG. 3 and FIG. 6A lies inthat, the rib 412 may run over the through hole 411 horizontally in theX direction.

In view of the above, implementation or embodiments of the technicalsolutions presented by the present invention to solve problems aredescribed herein, which are not intended to limit the scope ofimplementation of the present invention. Equivalent modifications andimprovements in accordance with the claims of the present invention ormade according to the claims of the present invention are covered by theclaims of the present invention.

1. A fan support structure formed by a metal plate, comprising a firstplate area and a second plate area extended from a first edge of thefirst plate area and perpendicular to the first plate area, wherein atleast one through hole is disposed at the first plate area, the firstedge of the first plate area and a second edge of the first plate areaopposite to the first edge of the first plate are extended to form atleast one slot structure, directions in which the first edge and thesecond edge of the first plate extend and are formed are opposite to adirection in which the second plate area extends and is formed, andopenings of the slot structure are opposite to each other, the slotstructure is used to hold a filter screen.
 2. The fan support structureaccording to claim 1, further comprising a third plate area, wherein thefirst plate area is parallel to the third plate area, the third platearea and the second plate area comprise a common adjacent edge, and thecommon adjacent edge is a corresponding edge corresponding to the firstedge the first plate area.
 3. The fan support structure according toclaim 1, wherein the slot structure is formed by bending a first bentplate area formed by extending the second edge of the first plate areaand a second bent plate area formed by extending the first edge of thefirst plate area.
 4. The fan support structure according to claim 2,wherein a first block area and a second block area are respectivelyextended and formed by a third edge and a forth edge of the first platearea, the first block area and the second block area are bent towardsthe third plate area and connected to the third plate area.
 5. The fansupport structure according to claim 4, wherein a connecting area isdisposed at an outer side edge of the first block area and an outer sideedge of the second block area respectively, each of the connecting areacomprises a connecting member, the third plate area comprises twoconnecting members, the connecting areas are bent to be attached to thethird plate area, and the connecting members on the connecting areas arejoined to the connecting members of the third plate area.
 6. The fansupport structure according to claim 4, wherein the first block area isopened with a through hole, and an edge of the through hole protrudesoutwards to form a dragging portion.
 7. The fan support structureaccording to claim 6, wherein the dragging portion is arc-shaped.
 8. Thefan support structure according to claim 1, wherein a plurality ofthrough holes are disposed at the first plate area, and the throughholes have the same diameter and disposed adjacent to each other in thefirst plate area.
 9. The fan support structure according to claim 1,wherein at least one rib running over the at least one through hole isdisposed at the first plate area.
 10. The fan support structureaccording to claim 1, wherein at least one fan fixing member is disposedat a portion of the third plate area corresponding to the at least onethrough hole of the first plate area.
 11. A metal plate for fabricatinga fan support structure, comprising a first plate area, wherein a secondplate area is disposed at a first edge of the first plate area, thefirst plate area is disposed with at least one through hole, and aplurality of bent plates are disposed at the first edge of the firstplate area and a corresponding second edge of the first plate area. 12.The metal plate for fabricating a fan support structure according toclaim 11, further comprising a third plate area, wherein the third platearea is disposed at a corresponding edge of the second plate areacorresponding to the first edge of the first plate area.
 13. The metalplate for fabricating a fan support structure according to claim 11,further comprising a first block area and a second block area,independently disposed at a third edge and a fourth edge opposite to thethird edge, of the first plate area.
 14. The metal plate for fabricatinga fan support structure according to claim 13, wherein a connecting areais disposed at an outer side edge of the first block area and an outerside edge of the second block area respectively.
 15. The metal plate forfabricating a fan support structure according to claim 14, wherein theconnecting areas have the same shape.
 16. The metal plate forfabricating a fan support structure according to claim 13, wherein thefirst block area is opened with a through hole, and an edge of thethrough hole protrudes outwards to form a dragging portion.
 17. Themetal plate for fabricating a fan support structure according to claim15, wherein the through hole of the first block area is a square hole.18. The metal plate for fabricating a fan support structure according toclaim 15, wherein the second block area is opened with a fixing hole.19. The metal plate for fabricating a fan support structure according toclaim 11, wherein a plurality of through holes are disposed at the firstplate area, and the through holes have the same diameter and disposedadjacent to each other in the first plate area.
 20. The metal plate forfabricating a fan support structure according to claim 11, wherein atleast one rib running over the at least one through hole is disposed atthe first plate area.